INFLUENCE OF CERIUM ADDITION ON THE SYNTHESIS OF SOLIDS BASED ON PLATINUM SUPPORTED OVER ALUMINA-PILLARED CLAY

The present work shows the preparation and characterization of a set of solids by modification of a natural clay with Al, Ce and Pt. The characterization of the solids by X-ray diffraction (XRD) reveals the insertion of alumina pillars, whereas the subsequent impregnations of the pillared clay with Pt (II) or Ce (IV) do not lead to structural variations that can be observed by XRD. The characterization by nitrogen adsorption indicates that the incorporation of platinum species originates damages in the microporosity of the solid, while the addition of cerium prevents the deterioration of the textural propertie

Interactions Between EIP on AHA Reference Sites and Action Groups to Foster Digital Innovation of Health and Care in European Regions

The article describes some of the achievements of the European Innovation Partnership on Active and Healthy Ageing (EIP on AHA), after eight years in operation. These results were achieved thanks to the collaborative work of the action groups (AGs) and reference sites (RSs). RS regional ecosystems include key organisations committed to investing in innovation to foster active and healthy ageing. The AGs are groups of professionals committed to sharing their knowledge and skills in active and healthy ageing. This article reports on the approach used by the EIP on AHA to bring together experts and regions in identifying and addressing these challenges. Synergies between AGs offered substantial support to RSs, allowing regional health and care priorities and challenges to be identified and pursued through AG commitments. Building upon the experiences of the EIP on AHA, the Reference Sites Collaborative Network has set up a number of thematic action groups that bring together multidisciplinary experts from across Europe to address the main health and social care challenges at regional, national and European level

Homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysts of Fe3+, Co2+ and Cu2+ for the degradation of methyl parathion in diluted aqueous medium

La degradación de pesticidas (plaguicidas, herbicidas, fungicidas, entre otros) en medio acuoso constituye un tema de enorme importancia que contribuye a asegurar la calidad del agua de numerosas fuentes hídricas. En el presente trabajo se realizó la evaluación de sistemas catalíticos homogéneos (iones metálicos en solución) y heterogéneos (óxidos soportados en alúmina), basados en Fe3+, Co2+ y Cu2+, en la oxidación (degradación) del plaguicida metilparatión en medio acuoso, empleando peróxido de hidrógeno como oxidante bajo condiciones suaves de reacción (25 ºC y presión atmosférica). Los sólidos se caracterizaron por difracción de rayos X y microscopía electrónica de barrido (SEM). El sistema Fe3+/H2O2 (sistema Fenton) constituye el catalizador homogéneo más activo, en comparación con los sistemas Co2+/H2O2 y Cu2+/H2O2. Los sólidos conformados por óxidos de cobalto, cobre o hierro y óxidos mixtos soportados en alúmina mostraron actividad catalítica a pH muy cercano a la neutralidad. Los sistemas mixtos Fe-Co-Cu/Al2O3, Co-Cu/Al2O3 y Fe-Co/Al2O3 fueron los sólidos de máxima actividad catalítica. Adicionalmente, se observó la influencia del soporte (-Al2O3) en el pH del medio de reacción, permitiendo el acercamiento de dichos valores a la neutralidad y con ello favoreciendo la actividad catalítica de los óxidos de cobalto y de cobre. Los resultados del presente estudio permiten avanzar en una nueva ruta de búsqueda de catalizadores para la eliminación de pesticidas organofosforados contaminantes de aguas residuales.Degradation of pesticides (plaguicides, herbicides, fungicides, among others) in aqueous media is a subject of great importance for ensuring the water quality into numerous hydric sources. This work reports the assessment of homogeneous (metal ion solutions) and heterogeneous (oxides supported on alumina) systems that are based on Fe3+, Co2+ y Cu2+, which were used as catalysts for oxidation (degradation) of methyl parathion (a plaguicide) in aqueous solution. Hydrogen peroxide was herein used as oxidizing molecule under mild condition of reaction (25 ºC and atmospheric pressure). The solids were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Fe3+/H2O2 (Fenton system) was the most active homogeneous catalyst compared to Co2+/H2O2 and Cu2+/H2O2 systems. Solids catalysts such as cobalt, copper or iron oxides as well as mixed oxides supported on alumina were active at pH close to neutrality. Fe-Co-Cu/Al2O3, Co-Cu/Al2O3 and Fe-Co/Al2O3 mixed systems were solids with the highest catalytic activity. In addition, an important effect of the support (-Al2O3) on the reaction pH was observed, allowing to reach values close to that of the neutrality, and thus increasing the catalytic activity of both cobalt oxide and copper oxide species. These results allow advancing on a new pathway for searching catalysts to remove organophosphorous pesticides from residual waters

Neuropeptide Y as a risk factor for cardiorenal disease and cognitive dysfunction in chronic kidney disease: translational opportunities and challenges

Neuropeptide Y (NPY) is a 36-amino-acid peptide member of a family also including peptide YY and pancreatic polypeptide, which are all ligands to Gi/Go coupled receptors. NPY regulates several fundamental biologic functions including appetite/satiety, sex and reproduction, learning and memory, cardiovascular and renal function and immune functions. The mesenteric circulation is a major source of NPY in the blood in man and this peptide is considered a key regulator of gut-brain cross talk. A progressive increase in circulating NPY accompanies the progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD) toward kidney failure and NPY robustly predicts cardiovascular events in this population. Furthermore, NPY is suspected as a possible player in accelerated cognitive function decline and dementia in patients with CKD and in dialysis patients. In theory, interfering with the NPY system has relevant potential for the treatment of diverse diseases from cardiovascular and renal diseases to diseases of the central nervous system. Pharmaceutical formulations for effective drug delivery and cost, as well as the complexity of diseases potentially addressable by NPY/NPY antagonists, have been a problem until now. This in part explains the slow progress of knowledge about the NPY system in the clinical arena. There is now renewed research interest in the NPY system in psychopharmacology and in pharmacology in general and new studies and a new breed of clinical trials may eventually bring the expected benefits in human health with drugs interfering with this system

Can integrated care help in meeting the challenges posed on our health care systems by COVID-19? Some preliminary lessons learned from the european VIGOUR project

The COVID-19 pandemic puts health and care systems under pressure globally. This current paper highlights challenges arising in the care for older and vulnerable populations in this context and reflects upon possible perspectives for different systems making use of nested integrated care approaches adapted during the work of the EU-funded project VIGOUR